Cello prodigy Zlatomir Fung makes his Hong Kong debut, playing with Britain's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and “showing off”

For the premiere performance concert with local pianist Rachel Cheung Wai-ching, Fung has selected a program with Schumann, Chopin, Brahms, Janacek and… himself.

Fantasy about Jenufa for cello and piano is his own adaptation of Czech composer Leos Janacek's opera from 2023 Jenufa – an unusual undertaking.

“In the 19th century, there was a strong tradition in which virtuoso cellists and composers arranged popular operas of the time by selecting the best melodies and most famous moments and writing variations on them for the cello,” says Fung.

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“The tradition died out in the 20th century. But my interest in this project became very strong during the pandemic, as many of these pieces were written by cellists who wanted to, in a sense, “show” what they could do with the instrument.”

The upcoming performance at Hong Kong City Hall will be the Asian premiere of Fung's Fantasy about Jenufa. “It’s great to do this kind of intimate concert where everything is a conversation between piano and cello.”

Other pieces in the concert include Robert Schumann's Five pieces in folk style, which he sees as a “very unusual piece that I’ve known for some time,” but still a “fun challenge.” For the first time he will deal with Johannes Brahms' Violin Sonata No. 3 in a version for cello and piano, which Yo-Yo Ma recorded around 30 years ago.

Fung's Bulgarian mother and Chinese father – both mathematicians – provided their four American children with early music education.

Fung began playing the cello when he was three and a half years old, an unusual decision since most children start with the piano. However, his family didn't have a piano at home, so he started with “a very small cello,” he says.

For the first seven years, he studied with a patient teacher who placed great emphasis on refining each piece he played before moving on to something more difficult, he says approvingly.

“I hadn’t played that many pieces when I was ten, but I think I had played them all pretty well.”

Around the age of 13, he decided to become a professional musician. In his words, it was a “crazy decision,” but that’s exactly what he did.

Today, in addition to his touring and teaching duties, he is also artist-in-residence with the UK's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the 2023-24 season.

“I feel like I’ve been very lucky – they’re a wonderful orchestra and it was really interesting to get the chance to work with them several times,” says Fung.

“I learned a lot. I think that the style of British orchestras in general is very different from the American orchestra [which I am more familiar with].”

He says he is excited to finally meet and work with Cheung, who won the Audience Prize at the 2017 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and other awards at other major competitions such as the Leeds, Chopin and Geneva International Piano Competitions.

“As a musician, you hear from people; Now, with the internet, you can listen to them so easily. “The repertoire I choose is sometimes a little unusual and I’m really looking forward to working with her,” he says. The two will then perform in Shanghai on April 25th.

“Tchaikovsky Competition Gold Medal Winner: Zlatomir Fung Cello Recital,” premiere, Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central, April 17, 7:30 p.m.